Text Sjarmaine Ngoetra

koffieTcacao magazine is always on the lookout for the hottest coffee, tea and cocoa spots. Today we focus on: Black & Bloom, Oude kijk in ‘t Jatstraat 32, Groningen (Netherlands)

Quality, simplicity and cosiness.

This is what espresso bar Black and Bloom represents. Owner Gerben Engelkes talks proudly about his bar: "I try to give my guests high-quality coffee in a simple and homely environment with a warm and friendly atmosphere." 

Coffee nerd

In 2008 Gerben owned two franchise organizations in Groningen. In August 2011, he decided to stop because he could not agree with the direction the organizations were heading.

He really wanted to focus on specialty coffee and so he decided to open his own coffee and tea bar where the highest quality is the only criteria.

Gerben followed two SCAE courses (barista certificates) and on August 2012, he opened the doors of his bar Black and Bloom.

"I am now trying to become the coffee nerd of the north," Gerben says with a smile.

"This is who I am"

Some keywords for Black (espresso) and Bloom (filter) are: single origins, espresso from the synesso, bookcase, warm filter at the Brewbar, Hario, a cosy atmosphere, chemex, aeropress, home-made cakes, coffee and games, students, StarWars, a warm living-room and special teas.

Black and Bloom was second in the Misset Horeca Coffee Top 100 competition 2014.

Machine: Synesso Hydra 2 - gang Manual
Grinder: Anfim Super Caiman , 2 x Mazzer Mini , 1 x Mahlkönig Guatemala
Coffee: Caffè Nation
Tea: Hotsoup.nl
Chocolate: Grenada Chocolate Company
Pie / cake: Homemade
Milk: Weerribben full milk
Soy: Alpro Professional
Specialty: Filter Coffee